urban transport in the developing world. elements of urban transport sector urban public transport:...

Urban Transport in the Developing Urban Transport in the Developing

WorldWorld

Elements of Urban Transport Elements of Urban Transport SectorSector

Urban public transport: Urban public transport: On-street systems (for buses, trolley-buses, trams) On-street systems (for buses, trolley-buses, trams) Mixed on-street and off-street systems (bus lanes, Mixed on-street and off-street systems (bus lanes,

bus ways and light rail) bus ways and light rail) Off-street systems (metros and commuter rail) Off-street systems (metros and commuter rail)

The urban road system The urban road system Traffic management systems (for increasing Traffic management systems (for increasing

the efficiency of available road space) the efficiency of available road space) Non-motorized transport systems (facilities for Non-motorized transport systems (facilities for

pedestrians and people powered vehicles) pedestrians and people powered vehicles) Urban transport institutions (planning, design, Urban transport institutions (planning, design,

finance, implementation, and enforcement) finance, implementation, and enforcement)

PurposePurpose

Purpose of urban transportPurpose of urban transport. . Successful urban transport systems Successful urban transport systems ought to increase commercial and labor ought to increase commercial and labor market efficiency, increase access to market efficiency, increase access to amenities, and make changes in the amenities, and make changes in the scale and form of urban scale and form of urban agglomerations possible, all without agglomerations possible, all without undue adverse effects on the undue adverse effects on the environment. environment.

ImportanceImportance Importance of urban transportImportance of urban transport. The . The

urban sector in most developing countries urban sector in most developing countries accounts for at least 50 percent of the gross accounts for at least 50 percent of the gross national product and in some countries over national product and in some countries over 70 %. Cities in developing countries often 70 %. Cities in developing countries often devote 15 % to 25 % of their annual devote 15 % to 25 % of their annual expenditures to their transport systems, and expenditures to their transport systems, and sometimes much more.sometimes much more.

Household expenditures on urban Household expenditures on urban transporttransport. In developing countries it is . In developing countries it is common to find that 5 % to 10 % of urban common to find that 5 % to 10 % of urban household income is spent on transport. In household income is spent on transport. In some cases the figure is 15% or more.some cases the figure is 15% or more.

General Trends in Urban Transport General Trends in Urban Transport SectorSector

Rapid growth of urban areasRapid growth of urban areas. Cities are . Cities are major engines of growth in most developing major engines of growth in most developing countries, and urban populations are expanding countries, and urban populations are expanding at a high rate (more than 6 percent annually or at a high rate (more than 6 percent annually or doubling in size in less than 12 years). doubling in size in less than 12 years).

Very rapid increase in motorizationVery rapid increase in motorization. Urban . Urban motor vehicle ownership and usage is growing motor vehicle ownership and usage is growing even faster than the urban population. Vehicle even faster than the urban population. Vehicle ownership growth rates of 15-20% per year in ownership growth rates of 15-20% per year in developing countries is not uncommon. This developing countries is not uncommon. This has been largely caused by growing per capita has been largely caused by growing per capita incomes in urban areas. incomes in urban areas.


Substantial increases in traffic congestionSubstantial increases in traffic congestion. . Ownership and usage of vehicles is growing much faster Ownership and usage of vehicles is growing much faster than the ability to provide road space and alternative than the ability to provide road space and alternative means of coping with the problem. Severe traffic means of coping with the problem. Severe traffic congestion, and its adverse side effects on the urban congestion, and its adverse side effects on the urban economy, environment, and society are being felt in economy, environment, and society are being felt in many citiesmany cities. .

Relative decline of public transport usage and Relative decline of public transport usage and servicesservices. The growing reliance on private vehicles has . The growing reliance on private vehicles has resulted in a substantial decline in the share of total resulted in a substantial decline in the share of total trips being provided by urban public transport systems trips being provided by urban public transport systems in many cities. Similarly, the travel environment for in many cities. Similarly, the travel environment for pedestrians and people-powered vehicles has rapidly pedestrians and people-powered vehicles has rapidly declined. This trend is particularly unfavorable for the declined. This trend is particularly unfavorable for the urban poor as they are typically captive riders and often urban poor as they are typically captive riders and often dependent on public transit for access to employment. dependent on public transit for access to employment.


Shift from public to private sector provision Shift from public to private sector provision of services and facilitiesof services and facilities. The public sector is . The public sector is increasingly relying on the private sector to increasingly relying on the private sector to provide these facilities and services. It is provide these facilities and services. It is estimated that at least 80% of all urban bus estimated that at least 80% of all urban bus services provided around the world are now services provided around the world are now privately owned and operated. Increasingly cities privately owned and operated. Increasingly cities are arranging for the private provision of urban are arranging for the private provision of urban transport infrastructure. In short, cities are transport infrastructure. In short, cities are moving from providers of transport infrastructure moving from providers of transport infrastructure and services to facilitators. and services to facilitators.


Shift from new road construction to intensive Shift from new road construction to intensive management of urban road networks and management of urban road networks and improved public transitimproved public transit. Growing recognition that . Growing recognition that cities cannot build enough road capacity to cities cannot build enough road capacity to accommodate the growth in travel demand by accommodate the growth in travel demand by means of the private vehicle.means of the private vehicle.

While road networks will be required, especially in While road networks will be required, especially in rapidly growing cities, greater reliance is being rapidly growing cities, greater reliance is being placed on (a) more intensive management of travel placed on (a) more intensive management of travel demand, (b) traffic management techniques to demand, (b) traffic management techniques to increase the practical capacity of available road increase the practical capacity of available road space, and (c) improved urban public transport space, and (c) improved urban public transport systems. systems.


Rapid introduction of Intelligent Technology Rapid introduction of Intelligent Technology Systems (ITS)Systems (ITS). recent development of improved . recent development of improved "intelligent technologies" (electronic toll "intelligent technologies" (electronic toll collection systems, centralized traffic control collection systems, centralized traffic control systems, automatic vehicle location systems for systems, automatic vehicle location systems for public transport systems, and other similar public transport systems, and other similar technologies) has resulted in better utilizing technologies) has resulted in better utilizing urban transport facilities. urban transport facilities.

The costs of these technologies are rapidly The costs of these technologies are rapidly declining while their practical applications declining while their practical applications improve. This presents an opportunity for those improve. This presents an opportunity for those developing countries with adequate financial and developing countries with adequate financial and staff resources to "leapfrog" forward in applying staff resources to "leapfrog" forward in applying these technologies to urban transport problems. these technologies to urban transport problems.


Potential for better acceptance and deployment of Potential for better acceptance and deployment of demand management techniquesdemand management techniques. .

Charge road users for the use of scarce road space, Charge road users for the use of scarce road space, primarily as a means of maximizing the use of urban primarily as a means of maximizing the use of urban roads during congested periods, and secondarily as a roads during congested periods, and secondarily as a means of securing additional funds for transport means of securing additional funds for transport investments.investments.

Proposals have been repeatedly rejected due to their Proposals have been repeatedly rejected due to their political unpopularity. Up to the present these systems political unpopularity. Up to the present these systems have been deployed in city centers only in Singapore and have been deployed in city centers only in Singapore and three Norwegian cities. three Norwegian cities.

With the introduction of much improved electronic road With the introduction of much improved electronic road pricing technologies, the practical application of pricing pricing technologies, the practical application of pricing may be ready for acceptance and more widespread may be ready for acceptance and more widespread deployment. deployment.

Experience has shown that public acceptance of pricing Experience has shown that public acceptance of pricing schemes can be substantially enhanced by earmarking schemes can be substantially enhanced by earmarking the funds that are collected expressly for additional urban the funds that are collected expressly for additional urban transport improvements. transport improvements.

Issues Requiring AttentionIssues Requiring Attention

Adverse Impacts of Rapid Growth in Adverse Impacts of Rapid Growth in Vehicle Ownership and Use Vehicle Ownership and Use

Inadequate Urban Transport Inadequate Urban Transport Financial Mechanisms Financial Mechanisms

Inadequate Urban Transport Inadequate Urban Transport Regulation and Legislation Regulation and Legislation

Weak and Fragmented Urban Weak and Fragmented Urban Transportation Institutions Transportation Institutions

Shanghai Mass TransitShanghai Mass Transit

Singapore’s Mass Rapid TransitSingapore’s Mass Rapid Transit

urban transport in the developing world. elements of urban transport sector urban public transport:...

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